Trivia
Trivia
How about some burgers?
Yes, it looks like Ancient Rome originated the hamburger. Known as Isicia Omentata and found in the ancient cookbook “Apicius,” patties were made of minced meat, pine kernels, ground pepper, coriander, and let’s not forget their favorite, Garum, a salty fish sauce. Slap them between some slices of bread and it’s a perfect meal for those soldiers guarding the frontier.
From English Heritage
Photo by Annsofie Tedfors on Pixabay
Hey, where do you live?
From the digs at Pompeii, archeologists discovered that the Romans had street numbers and street names.
Photo by Christopher Ott on Unsplash
Road Reflectors
White stones (called cat’s eyes) have been found in Pompeii between regular road stones. These would act as reflectors for night travel, capturing the moonlight and guiding the way.
From Imperium Romanum
April Fools, Roman Style
Not in April but on March 25 around the Spring Equinox. Known as Hilaria, it honored Cybele mother of the gods, in which hilarity was encouraged through the playing of practical jokes.
Submitted by reader Martina Gruhl.
Photo by Gini George on Pixabay
While You’re Out, Pick Up Some Dinner.
Yes, Ancient Rome was a fast food take out paradise. The average person didn’t have the resources to cook at home, so there was a proliferation of places to buy food and bring it home, which is why such establishments were considered for the lower classes.
Photo by Fernando Andrade on Unsplash
As a Roman soldier, can I get married?
No and yes. Although the rules say no, most officers turned a blind eye to their soldiers having relationships, wives and children.
Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash
How do you keep your toga so white?
Urine. Leave your chamber pot outside in the morning and the local cleaners will pick up the contents. Drop off your toga with a few coins. Ammonia does wonders. But for some reason, nobody wanted to live near them.
Photo by Claire Satera on Unsplash
Toga! Toga! Toga!
No! Despite what you see in all those spear and sandal epics, togas were not worn all the time. They were only used for special occasions. The primary item of clothing was the tunic.
Photo by Engin Akyurt on Unsplash